Hose nozzle and the like



May 23, 1961 B. H. MARTIN HOSE NOZZLE AND THE LIKE INVENTOR.

FIG. 5

Filed Aug. 22. 1958 ON H.

MARTIN Z W ATTORNEYS FIG 7 FIG. 6

HOSE NOZZLE AND THE LIKE Byron H. Martin, 2996 Overlook Road, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Filed Aug. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 756,567

8 Claims. (Cl. 239-422) This invention relates to improvements in nozzles, which are more particularly adapted for use with fire hose lines, but which are not limited to such use.

One of the hazards encountered by firemen using the present types of fire hose and nozzles is the danger from the outlet end of the line whipping from side to side under the relatively high water pressures used in fighting fires. As a result of this whip, three men are usually required to hold the line steady when using water pressures up to about 80 p.s.i. at the outlet end of the nozzle, while with pressures above the latter, regulations usually require the outlet end of the line to be mechanically attached to a fixed structure for safety.

In the present standard fire hose line the water passage through the nozzle is substantially circular in cross section throughout its length and tapers to a smaller diameter at its discharge end. As a result of the use of this circular passage, the Water under pressure which has been passing through the hose in a spiral or orbiting motion, continues this motion through the nozzle, thus Providing a twisting action within the nozzle at the discharge end which results in Whip as the forces from the twisting action tend to increase and decrease from side to side.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a nozzle or coupling structure for a fire hose which will eliminate whip over most of the ranges of water pressures now used in fighting fires, and will substantially reduce whip even when extremely high pressures are used. Additional objects which are obtained along with the elimination and reduction of whip are an increased rate of flow of water from the nozzle, a reduced pressure loss between the pumping source and the nozzle outlet, the obtaining of an over-all better fire fighting water pattern, and the ability to move the line at random without excessive reaction during fire fighting operations, thus removing some of the hazards to safety,

Another object is to provide a nozzle or coupling for a fire hose wherein the water under pressure enters the nozzle through a circular passage with its normal spiralling or orbiting motion, from which it then enters a substantially symmetrical flat sided passage which breaks up or dampens the spiraling motion. The latter passage continues fiat sided to the outlet end of the nozzle, and its cross sectional area tapers so as to gradually reduce the size of the fiat sided area toward the outlet end of the nozzle.

A further object is to provide a tapered substantially symmetrical fiat sided passage in the nozzle, which passage is of a predetermined length and cross-sectional area throughout its length to provide optimum flow.

A further object is to provide a vented tip at the outlet end of the nozzle which does not interfere with the passage of water from the nozzle, and which furnishes an ejector action for air adjacent the outlet end of the nozzle, which air forms a temporary wall surrounding the water as the latter leaves the nozzle and enables the stream of water to travel a greater distance as a relatively small stream before it breaks laterally through the air wall and increases in width commensurate with the distance it travels after leaving the nozzle.

A further object is to provide a nozzle structure wherein the tip, the tapered body portion, and the threaded handle and valve housing portion may be all cast or drawn as a single unit, thus effecting a substantial saving over machined nozzles.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved nozzle,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the nozzle, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking substantially in the direction indicated by line 3--3 of Fig. 2, and showing the inlet end of the nozzle to which the hose is connected,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the nozzle, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a similar section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a similar section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is an end elevation looking substantially in the direction indicated by line 7--7 of Fig. 2, and showing the outlet end of the nozzle with its vented tip thereon.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates my improved nozzle in its entirety, having a valve housing 11 at its inlet end, an intermediate body or throat portion 12. integral with said housing, and a vented tip 13 at its outlet end, integral with said throat.

Exteriorly, housing 11 is generally rectangular, and its outer end is internally threaded at 14 to receive the conventional coupling of a fire hose, or the like (not shown), while a circular longitudinalp'assage 15 extends through housing 11 of substantially the same diameter as the hose connected thereto. Mounted in housing 11 in position to open or close passage 15 is the conventional ball valve 16, which is manipulated in the usual manner by the handle 17. Since this type of valve is standard on most present day fire nozzles, a further detailed description thereof is not believed necessary.

The outer surface of the body or throat portion 12 is preferably, but not necessarily, circular, and gradually tapers to its smallest diameter at its outlet end. Extending longitudinally through the throat 12 is a substantially symmetrical flat sided passage 18 which constitutes a continuation of passage 15, and passage 18 also tapers to its smallest width at its outlet end (i.e., all sides are convergent toward the outlet end). In the present embodiment of the invention, the passage 18 is formed in a gradual transition from the circular formation of adjacent passage 15 to a substantially symmetrical octagonal formation, indicated at 19, and thereafter there is a further gradual transition from octagonal to a substantially symmetrical square formation 20, which latter formation passage 18 assumes adjacent its outlet end.

The tip 13 surrounds the outlet end of the throat 12 and extends forwardly of the latter with a narrow annular passage 21 therein which forms a continuation of passage 18, but which is of larger diameter than the width of the outlet end of passage 18. Tip 13 has a reduced skirt portion 22 in which are formed a plurality (in this instance, four) of relatively long arcuate vent openings 23 which communicate at their outer ends with passage 21 and at their inner ends with the atmosphere. As more clearly seen from Fig. 2, due to the taper of the outer end surface of throat 12, the openings 23 are wider at their cuter than at their inner ends. Under some conditions, it may be desirable to omit the tip 13 from the nozzle structure; 7

In the operation of my improved nozzle, the water aaeaseq.

under pressure enters circular passage 15 with the same spiralling or orbiting motion with which it passes through the hose. When this water enters the passage 18, the fiat substantially symmetrical tapering sides thereof break up or dampen the spiralling or orbiting motion, and a highly desirable fire fighting stream is delivered with the elimination of whip from the line under water pressures at the outlet end of the nozzle up to about 75 to 80 p.s.i., and with a substantial and effective reduction of whip under higher water pressures. Thus, as a practical matter, whip is eliminated over the range of water pressures ordinarily utilized when firemen are holding the nozzle and personally directing the Water stream. The elimination of whip is accomplished with the substantially symmetrical flat sided passage which eliminates the side forces which are present in the conventional circular passage now in general use in nozzles.

In addition to taking care of the whip hazard in fire hose lines, the substantially symmetrical tapering fiat sided passage 18 in the nozzle, by breaking up or dampening the spiralling or orbiting action of the water, provides an increased rate of flow of water from the nozzle, which tests show may amount to as much as 30 percent more than the rate of flow from present conventional nozzles using comparable water pressures at the source. Further, the substantially symmetrical tapering flat sided passage results in a reduced pressure loss between the pressure source and the nozzle outlet, and permits ready movement of the line during fire fighting operations without excessive reaction.

It will be appreciated that my improved nozzle may be readily utilized without the vented tip 13, and the fea tures and advantages referred to in the two preceding paragraphs will still be obtained. However, it is believed that in most instances, it will be preferable to use the tip 13, in order additionally to obtain the better over-all fire fighting water pattern that is provided thereby.

With the tip 13 as an integral part of the nozzle, the stream of water emerging from the passage 18 passes through the slightly larger passage 21 in the tip, and in so doing provides an ejector action which pulls or draws air through the vent openings 23 in the tip, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. This air forms a temporary wall surrounding the water as the latter leaves the nozzle which permits the stream of water to travel farther as a relatively small stream before it breaks laterally through this air wall and spreads commensurate with the distance it travels after leaving the nozzle.

In tests made with my improved nozzle attached to a standard fire hose of 2 /2 inch diameter and 100 feet long, with water pressures at the outlet end of the nozzle being varied from about 45 psi. up to about 120 psi, the nozzle and hose line was easily held by one man and moved at random by him without any whip being present in the line, while furnishing a highly satisfactory fire fighting stream.

Of course, the dimensions of my improved nozzle will vary according to the diameter of the fire or other hose being used, and with a hose of 2 /2 inch diameter, the dimensions preferably should be as follows in order to provide optimum results. The diameter of passage 15 is about 2 /2 inches and its length is about 5% inches, The length of passage 18 is about 14%. inches and its width at about the line X is about 1% inch, which width tapers to about 1 inch at the outlet end.

The present fire nozzle is usually a brass casting which is machined to close tolerances and then plated and polished. My improved nozzle may also be made in this manner, but due to the elimination of whip, lighter materials, for example, such as aluminum or titanium may readily be used, and the nozzle cast or drawn therefrom while dispensing with the machining to close tolerances and polishing. 7

While I have shown and described a preferred embodi-- ment of my invention, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited thereto and that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hose line having a nozzle at its outlet end, means for eliminating whip from said line which is caused by fluids passing therethrough under relatively high pressures, said means comprising a single substantially equilateral axial passage inv said nozzle, said passage having fiat sides, all of said flat sides gradually converging toward its outlet end at a constant rate and over a length several times the passage diameter at its inlet end such as to prevent substantial loss in pressure at said outlet end.

2. A nozzle construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said flat sided passage originates in octagonal shape in cross section and gradually changes to square shape in cross section toward its outlet end.

3. In a hose line having a nozzle at its outlet end, means for eliminating whip from said line which is caused by fluids passing therethrough under relatively high pressures, said means comprising a single substantially equilateral axial passage in said nozzle, said passage having flat sides, all of said flat sides gradually converging toward its outlet end at a constant rate and over a length several times the passage diameter at its inlet end such as to prevent substantial loss in pressure at said outlet end, and a vented tip connected to the outlet end of said nozzle.

4. In a fire hose line having a nozzle at its outlet end and through which water passes at relatively high pressures, means for eliminating whip from said line under water pressures up to about psi. at the outlet end of said nozzle, said means comprising a single substantially equilateral axial passage in said nozzle having fiat sides, said sides gradually converging toward the outer end of said passage at the same constant rate and over a length several times the passage diameter at its inlet end whereby substantial loss in pressure at said outlet end is prevented.

5. A nozzle for discharging fluid from one end as a non-orbiting stream comprising, an end portion to which a hose is adapted to be attached and having a circular longitudinal passage therethrough, a throat portion connected to said end portion, a single substantially equilateral longitudinal passage through said throat portion which is a coaxial continuation of said circular passage and which has flat sides, said flat sides gradually converging toward the discharge end of said nozzle at a constant rate and over a length several times the diameter of said circular passage such as to prevent substantial loss of pressure at'said discharge end and to cause non orbiting discharge and eliminate whip.

6. A nozzle of the type described in claim 5 having a vented tip connected to the discharge end of said nozzle.

7. A nozzle of the character described comprising an end portion to which a hose is adapted to be attached and having a circular longitudinal passage therethrough, and a throat portion terminating in a discharge end, said throat portion connected to said end portion and having a single substantially symmetrical longitudinal passage therethrough, said passage having flat sides, said flatsided passage being a coaxial continuation of said circular passage, said flat sides converging at'the same rate toward the discharge end of said throat portion, said fiat sided passage being of octagonal shape in cross section adjacent said circular passage and gradually changing to square shape in cross section toward its outer discharge end.

8. A nozzle of the character described comprising an end portion to which a hose is adapted to be attached and having a circular longitudinal passage therethrough, a throat portion terminating in a discharge end, said throat portion connected to said end portion and having a single substantially symmetrical longitudinal passage therethrough, said passage having flat sides, said flat-sided passage being a coaxial continuation of said circular passage, said flat sides converging at the same rate toward the discharge end of said throat portion, said flat sided passage being of octagonal shape in cross section adjacent said circular passage and gradually changing to square shape in cross section toward its outer discharge end, and 5 a vented tip connected to the outer end of said throat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 40,847 Macy et a1. Dec. 8, 1863 6 Kelleher et a1 Nov. 11, 1924 Henry May 21, 1935 Kurtz Jan. 7, 1936 Nielsen May 29, 1945 Peterman June 22, 1954 Smith July 5, 1955 Singer et a1 July 26, 1955 Finn Mar. 24, 1959 Falcetti Jan. 19, 1960 

